Edwin Meese, 3d

Meese, Edwin, 3d, 1931–, American public official, b. Oakland, Calif. As a deputy district attorney of Alameda co., he was a tough prosecutor with little toleration for radical protest. As a result, Gov. Ronald Reagan appointed him secretary of legal affairs. Meese served as counselor to President Reagan (1981–85) before becoming Attorney General (1985–88). As Attorney General he strongly criticized liberal Supreme Court rulings for straying from the "original intent" of the founders. Questions concerning his finances and his handling of the Iran-contra affair led to his resignation in 1988. He later was (2006) a member of the Iraq Study Group.